FRHS falls to ’Skins

ST. HENRY, Ohio — The Indians remained within striking distance of the third-ranked team in the state at halftime.

The third quarter put the game out of reach.

The Fort Recovery High School boys basketball team was limited to three hoops in the third quarter while allowing 19 points as it fell 62-39 to the Division IV No. 3 St. Henry Redskins.

The Tribe (9-9, 2-6 Midwest Athletic Conference) trailed 31-23 at the half and closed the gap to six with a Noah Lennartz basket early in the third quarter. But St. Henry scored the next 12 points in a row, with half of those coming from Zach Niekamp.

The Redskins (15-3, 6-1 MAC), who have won seven in a row since falling Jan. 12 to Division III No. 6 Anna, pushed their advantage to 20 by the end of the third period and cruised the rest of the way.

Niekamp buried three 3-pointers on the way to leading the Redskins with 15 points. Jay Knapke added 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Caden Niekamp also scored 10 points.

Payton Jutte tallied 11 points and was the only player to reach double figures for Fort Recovery, which was out-rebounded 36-22. Clay Schmitz followed with eight points and Blayne Thobe scored seven.

The Indians will try to climb back above .500 tonight as they host Shawnee.

FRHS eked out a 49-47 victory in the junior varsity game behind 14 points from Gavin Thobe and 13 from Ryne Post. Post scored six of his points in the final period.